TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE AVANCÉ OF YOUR CARAVAN

1. WHAT IS THE AVANCÉ OF A CARAVAN?

An avancé is a structure that is added to the caravan to increase the living area of the caravan, either partially open or fully enclosed.

This brief and concrete definition hides, however, an endless variety of types of avancés, in which we can easily get lost trying to find out which one to buy. An almost infinite variety of possibilities depending on the number of enclosures it has, materials, measurements, complements, use it is going to have, climate, etc...

2. SO WHERE TO START?

For us, the most important thing is to know how we are going to use our caravan. What are our caravan holidays like? Are they static in a fixed place? Or are we the type of people who like to move around?

Are short getaways our thing, or do we prefer longer stays?

These are the main questions we should ask ourselves when deciding on one type of avancé or another. In addition to other factors, no less important, such as the climate of the holiday destination and the space available to us.

3. TYPES

So let's start by trying to shed some light on which avancé is best suited to our needs.

A. Awnings

They are installed on the side of the caravan and unfold horizontally to provide a shaded area. They can be fixed or removable.

The former are installed by means of screws and are normally rolled up manually (with a crank) or automatically.

The latter are fitted to the caravan profile guide and have the advantage of being very light.

Both can occupy more or less extension on the side of our caravan, as they do not have to cover it completely.

The great advantage of these is that they are lighter and their assembly is quite quick, which is why they are suitable for travellers who spend only a short time in the same place.

 

In turn, both can consist of the awning only, or have one or more enclosures attached to them.

B. Enclosures

They provide protection from the wind, sun and cold, as well as a certain degree of privacy. Ideally, they should have windows for good ventilation and mosquito nets to protect us from insects.

      

 

Important note: Not all enclosures are compatible with all brands of caravan awnings, so be sure before buying your awning or enclosure to avoid mistakes. In these cases the advice of the seller is essential. The staff in our accessories shop will be happy to help you and put their extensive knowledge of this subject at your service.

C. Classic avancé

The most common and the one we have seen the most over the years. Like the awning, these can occupy the entire side or just a part of it; and their depth can also vary.

 

They usually have thick, sturdy frames. They are left in place for several days, often for several months at a time, such as a summer or weekend house.

They are more suitable for that, for long stays, as their assembly requires much more time and is more laborious than the assembly of an awning. Their greater weight and fastening system make them more stable in inclement weather.

D. Inflatable avancé

Same concept, but with a pressurised air structure. The advantage is that they are much quicker to assemble, especially if the whole structure is interconnected. So they are perfect for short stays on the road. In recent years they have become more and more popular and in demand. And yes, there are repair kits that solve the problem of getting a puncture.

E. Winter avancé

Same functionality as the previous ones, but they have a thicker fabric to insulate us from the cold and withstand the weight of the snow that may accumulate on the roof, so they are usually of a single slope and have reinforcement tubes for the structure.

 

These are the most common types of avancés that we will encounter, and they all have aspects in common:

• The materials from which they are made can be varied, the most common being PVA polyester, acrylic and PVC. The choice of these will depend, above all, on whether they are to be used in hot or cold areas. PVC is more suitable for cold temperatures as it is thicker and therefore also more durable. The disadvantage is that its thickness makes it more prone to condensation. PVA polyester and acrylic are thinner and allow better aeration, so they condense less, but this also makes them less durable.

Fortunately, more and more manufacturers are making avancés by combining these fabrics to create the perfect avancé.

• It is important to know what size your caravan needs. A small avancé can cause it to break, and an excessively large avancé with insufficient tension can quickly be damaged by a strong wind. Here, we show you how to do it:                                                                                                                          "Raise the caravan with the stabiliser feet to a normal height and on level ground. Then measure the distance between A and B all around the caravan following the guide on the side of the caravan; you can use a tape measure or a string which you can measure later. This is the measurement you should provide when you go to buy your awning.".                                                                                                         

For all of them there are also a large number of complements: additional sidewalls, annexes, windbreaks, double headlining, double roofs, girths, wheel covers, headlining floors, skirts, etc...

 

In addition, there are also awnings for motorhomes and campervans, but we will leave that for another day.

We hope that all this will help you when choosing the awning for your caravan, and remember that you can visit our online shop, visit us at our facilities or send us your questions through 96 545 78 19 or at tienda@caravanascruz.es